aadesa, updesa, anushasanam - Instruction

If any reader reads the description of this blog, just next to the title "Yoga Vedanta" on the top of this page, it reads "An Instruction ........"

Let me clarify the nature of "Instruction" of this blog in this post.

I am going to quote the "Siksha Valli" of Taittariya Upanishad to do so.

INSTRUCTION 2: before quoting anything from any Upanishad one SHOULD recite the "santi mantra" of that upanishad.

ॐ शं नो मित्रः शं वरुणः । शं नो भवत्वर्यमा । शं न इन्द्रो बृहस्पतिः । शं नो विष्णुरुरुक्रमः । नमो ब्रह्मणे । नमस्ते वायो । त्वमेव प्रत्यक्षं ब्रह्मासि । त्वमेव प्रत्यक्षं ब्रह्म वदिष्यामि । ऋतं वदिष्यामि । सत्यं वदिष्यामि । तन्मामवतु । तद्वक्तारमवतु । अवतु माम् । अवतु वक्तारम् ।

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः

In this part of taittariya upanishad the upanishad seer having given a set of instructions (11 anuvakas), concludes siksha valli with this statement:

एष आदेशः । एष उपदेशः । एषा वेदोपनिषत् । एतदनुशासनम् । एवमुपासितव्यम् । एवमु चैतदुपास्यम् ॥

ēṣa ādēśaḥ . ēṣa upadēśaḥ . ēṣā vēdōpaniṣat . ētadanuśāsanam . ēvamupāsitavyam . ēvamu caitadupāsyam .

In my own words This is the declaration. This is the advice. This is the essence of vedas. This is the commad. Follow this. Worship this alone.

So,
Q: what is aadesa, what is upadesa, what is anusasanam?

A: They are different types of "instructions"
The adesa and upadesa come from the root "dis" which means "to point" or "to show"
in this current context, aadesa means the primary instruction pointing or directing the seeker in the correct direction.
upadesa means a helping instruction, that helps the seeker to speed-up his journey (an advice).

Where as

the anusasanam comes from the root "sas" which means "to punish"
sasana means the order or law; anyone breaches that law will be punished by maintainer of the law or government.
anusasana means a supporting order / command by following it one can be saved from such punishment.

Even the word "sastra" (scripture) also comes from the same root.

The primary sastra of yoga that was composed by Rishi Patanjali starts with
अथ योगानुशासनम्
atha yogAnushasanam (YS 1.1)

But NO scripture or sastra enforces adherence to what is been declared by the scripture. It merely declare the true nature of the subject under discussion.

This blog intended to give all three types of instructions
1. aadesa - declarative/revealing instruction
2. upadesa - helping instructions
3. anusasanam - practical instructions to follow

It is left to the individual reading the blog to decide the type of each instruction and act according to his/her free will.

om tat sat